Diego Godin celebrates after scoring for Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.

There's been a lot of football played over the past two years, and one player leads the way in minutes played by some considerable distance. This player has effectively played over four more games than any other.

He has led his team to La Liga glory, to the verge of ultimate European glory and has taken over the captaincy of his country.

But while he plays in Spain, he isn't one of the biggest stars of the world game at Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Sweden won their first Under-21 European Championship defeating favourites Portugal in penalties after a 0-0 draw in regular time.

Sweden's organisation, spirit and tenacity saw them upset the odds and secure their first-ever European Under-21 Championship at the expense of overriding favourites Portugal.

Fresh from condemning Germany to their heaviest ever defeat in the semifinal, few thought the Scandinavians would be capable of stopping Rui Jorge's side. After all, the Swedes were the only team England managed to beat.

Yet an incredible, battling display frustrated Portugal and took the match to penalties, where William Carvalho...